-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's said nothing is certain in life except for death and taxes .

For French football clubs it 's a new punitive tax law that 's worrying them to death . They fear one of Europe 's top leagues , newly resurgent following significant investment from mega wealthy Qataris and Russians , could be irreparably damaged by the tax .

On Thursday , French president Francois Hollande told a delegation of professional French football club leaders he would n't abandon the government 's plan for a 75 % tax on salaries reaching more than a $ 1.35 million .

The clubs have been lobbying hard against the tax , arguing it endangers their future . It 's estimated the tax could increase their costs by up to 30 % .

And they feel so strongly over the matter that they plan to go on strike .

So if you 're a French football fan do n't expect to be watching the likes Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Monaco forward Falcao in action between 29 November and 2 December .

If it goes ahead it would France 's first football `` strike '' since 1972 .

Ibrahimovic is one of more than 10 players at Qatari-owned PSG -- France 's richest club -- whose yearly pay exceeds $ 1.35 million .

While the average Ligue 1 player 's salary is estimated at just under $ 800,000 , Ibrahimovic reportedly takes home $ 17.5 million a year .

Many players would already be taxed at France 's top marginal rate of 49 % , which kicks in at $ 675,000 a year .

Just for Ibrahimovic 's hefty pay packet alone , PSG 's costs would increase by nearly $ 12 million under the Hollande plan .

Since world-class players have their choice of what countries they play in , French teams would have to absorb the increased taxes themselves if they want to attract top talent .

Ahead of this weekend 's games , PSG and Monaco are joint top of Ligue 1 . But PSG could be at a further disadvantage in future given Monaco are exempt from French taxation laws and the principality club 's tax expenditure would be $ 67.5 million less than the French champions per year .

`` The high-income tax of 75 % , which was included in the 2013 draft budget of France , will have a disastrous effect on the competitiveness of French football , '' said the Professional Union of Football Clubs -LRB- UCPF -RRB- in a statement .

Before the start of the season some of the world 's best players -- like Edinson Cavani who joined PSG from Napoli -- If the taxation impasse remains , it is likely French clubs would struggle to attract the very top talent .

`` French teams will be at a disadvantage with regard to English clubs who only pay 40 % tax , '' former Monaco chief executive Tor-Kristian Karlsen told CNN .

`` That will affect the standard of the league . It might also affect money coming into French football from foreign investment -- potential owners might be tempted to get more value for money elsewhere .

`` Monaco and PSG have raised the popularity and exposure of French football outside France , '' added Karlsen .

`` Some in France are still quite skeptical as to why and how they have got involved , but if you are supporter or if you enjoy watching French football they have brought only positive dimensions .

`` As an international observer , it is going to be difficult to uphold the current standard in the years to come if this tax comes in to play . ''

French football has a strong tradition of developing young players through its academy system , but a French club has n't won the Champions League -- Europe 's top competition -- for over 20 years , though last season PSG reached the quarterfinals .

`` In the short term clubs would have to buy cheaper players for lower transfers and would pay lower salaries to avoid paying the 75 % , '' said Karlsen as he outlined a grim future for French football .

`` When the player reaches a level where he starts to attract offers from abroad and will attract wages far above â ‚ ¬ 1 million , or when a player becomes an international or starts to play well in European competition then there is no other option for him than to move abroad . ''

Karlsen added : `` What is a concern for the clubs is that their budgets relate to long-term contracts they have already agreed with players .

`` They feel the goalposts have been moved and it makes it extremely difficult for them to continue or plan to be successful in an environment that is already very challenging . ''

Earlier this week UCPF president Jean-Pierre Louvel unveiled a study outlining the economic benefits French football brings France , given it has an annual turnover of $ 5.8 billion and there are potentially 25,000 jobs at stake .

`` The return on investment for the state is $ .5 billion '' , said Louvel , who is also the president of second division club Le Havre . `` In addition , each euro generated by clubs creates additional 2.5 euros -LRB- $ 3.38 -RRB- in the country 's economy . ''

A survey by pollster OpinionWay in October suggested 85 % of voters did not think football clubs should be exempted from the high tax rate , which requires approval from the French parliament .

And given France 's economic problems -- it has only just emerged from recession -- some members of the French football community remain uneasy about the proposed strike .

`` I think that if our corporation goes on strike , we 'll have to go into hiding , I mean really go into hiding , '' Evian coach Pascal Dupraz , was quoted in L'Equipe as telling radio station RTL .

`` I 'm not totally for -LRB- the strike -RRB- personally , what worries me of course is that there is this tax , but , all French people suffer from having to pay taxes .

`` I just do n't understand the anger from the club presidents ; I just do n't get it at all . ''

It is not all bad news for French football fans given some observers expect a compromise to be reached .

`` I remain confident that some sort of solution will be found before the date of the strike voted for by the club 's chairmen , '' Julien Laurens , a French football expert and writer for Le Parisien , told CNN .

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French president Francois Hollande wants 75 % tax on salaries over $ 1.35 m

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Proposal has met with the disapproval of French football clubs

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Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco owned by Qatari and Russian billionaires respectively

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Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic would cost PSG an extra $ 12m a year